Adventure Guide: Ottawa

Looking for inspiration to finally visit the capital of Canada? I recently had the chance to work with Tourism Ottawa and it gave me the opportunity to stay in the heart of the city. While I was there, I completely fell in love with what the area had to offer. Hiking trails, delicious food, beer, museums, architecture, activities and more. It really has something for everyone – couples, families, friend groups, parties.

I can’t wait for you to see what the region has to offer, let’s jump into it! 

Activities

• Arkabraska Lafléche – This is one of the coolest adventures I’ve been on (quite literally too). I had no idea what I was getting into here with the caving experience, but it was a 2 hour guided tour where we walked and crawled through the Lafleche caves. Check out my video on it here to see the full experience. It was incredible, I would definitely do it again!
• Paddling at Dow’s Lake – If you need to beat the heat, head on over to Dow’s Lake and choose a mode of transportation to rent. I opted for a canoe, however they also have paddle boats, paddle boards and kayaks. Perfect for a hot day, and not overly expensive.
• Museums – Something I didn’t realize about Ottawa until this visit was just how many museums are there. It really seemed like every direction we walked we stumbled across a different type of museum. We only had time for the Nature Museum, which was beautiful and so interesting, however I’d love to take a trip back to museum hop. 
• Skating on Rideau River – Ottawa has winter activities too, so don’t worry if you can only visit in the snowy season! You can skate along Rideau River, the longest skating trail in the world (about 7.8km).

Food & Drink 

• Mexi’s – Right beside the paddle rentals at Dow’s Lake you’ll find Mexi’s. It’s right on the water with a great patio. I highly recommend a frozen margarita here, especially on a hot day after a paddle.
• Driphouse – Looking for the perfect cup of coffee? Look no further. While you’re here, why not also indulge in the avocado toast with goat cheese as well? Come on, you know you want to.
• Little Victories – Another brilliant spot to get coffee, but also a great spot to get a cute Instagram photo. Talk about two birds with one stone. I loved their Nitro coffee!

Hiking Trails

• Mer Bleue – Did you know that Ontario has larches? You can find them here! I recommend visiting this trail in October to see the larches turn golden. It’s truly a sight to behold. 
• Princess Louise Falls – Not far from the heart of the city you’ll find this beautiful waterfall. You can take a hiking trail to get to it, or just use the roadside stop option as it has roadside parking with a view of it right there.
• Gatineau Park – Gatineau Park is the National Capital Region’s conservation park. It is rich in unique biodiversity and beautiful hiking trails. I’ll quickly name a few places here I recommend: Pink Lake, Carbide Willson Ruins, Champlain Lookout, Wolf Trail and Kings Trail.
• Eagles Nest Lookout – This is a popular hiking trail close to Ottawa worth mentioning because it’s very beautiful and a great stop if you’re in this neck of the woods. I mean, photos of this lookout speak for themself. 

Where to Stay

• Restays – My husband and I had the most fabulous time staying at ReStays, a luxurious condo/hotel featuring a gym, movie theatre, sky lounge and more. We were lucky enough to get the penthouse suite, room 602, and my jaw was on the floor the entire time we were there. The balcony was incredible, massive and featured a view of the Parliament buildings. It was the perfect spot for sunrise and sunset. The bed was also super comfortable which is something that is important to me when travelling. The staff were all so helpful and friendly, needless to say I would go back here in a heart beat. I really enjoyed that this stay is located in the perfect spot to explore the city on foot. Ottawa felt very intimate as we got to walk to different shops, museums and restaurants. You really dive into what Ottawa has to offer just by staying here. 
• Camping – Ottawa is surrounded by Ontario Parks that offer campsites, perfect for stopping in when visiting or even using to break up your drive. Some parks in the area are: Fitzroy Provincial Park, Rideau River Provincial Park, Voyageur Provincial Park and Sharbot Lake Provincial Park.

What Else is Ottawa Known For?

• Rideau Canal – One of Canada’s most well known water routes, this canal is especially popular in the Winter to go skating on. It’s actually the World’s largest skating rink!
• Parliament Hill – When I think of Ottawa, this is always what my mind pictures. Parliament Hill, the physical embodiment of Canadian government for many. Construction of these buildings began in 1859, so it holds a lot of history.
• Local Eats – Ottawa is one of the best places to try Canadian cuisine. So yes…come to Ottawa for poutine and to stock up on maple syrup! But did you know that Ottawa is also known as the “shawarma capital of Canada”? I just learned this recently, I’ll have to go see that for myself.
• Museums – There are more than 14 museums in Ottawa, perfect for all you history buff’s out there!

Now that you’ve seen a peek into what Ottawa has to offer, are you ready to book a trip? I know I am ready to go back!

Let me know over on Instagram what your adventures to Ottawa look like, I’d love to see what you got up to. Until next time,

Keep on trekkin’ 🥾

Katie ✨

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